Stage apparatus



4 (No Model.)

' J PATTEN.

STAGE APPARATUS.

No. 501,099. Patented July 11, 1893.

6mm, Jgjemanfadtem "NH-FD STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

JEFFERSON PATTEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEILSON I BURGESS,OF HIGHLANDS, ,NEW JERSEY.

STAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,099, dated July 11,1893.

' Application filed November 21 1890- Serial No. 372,247. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON PATTEN, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Stage Apparatus, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art canmake and use the same.

The object ofmy invention is to provide a fence or like part that may beused on a substantially flat surface in connection with an apparatus forthe representation of a race effeet on the stage, the fence beingarranged so as to change the palings or slats passing it from ahorizontal to a vertical position, the latter being the position of theslats that is requisite as the fence moves along in front of the movinganimals that are engaged in the race.

To this end my invention consists in the combination of the severalparts making up the apparatus as a whole, and in details of such parts,as more particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a length offence arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail Viewin side elevation of the motor frame over which the fence is driven.Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the fence.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a stage or like fiatsurface on which the fence I) and its immediate supports are arranged.The fence is composed of an endless belt 0 to which slats or palings dare secured at proper intervals, the slats being located fiatwiseof thebelt and so secured thereto as to stand parallel with each other whenthe belt is turned face outward. At the proper distance apart,determined by the breadth of the stage the pulleys e are secured in aframe f that may be bolted or otherwise secured to the stage floor orother fixed part. These pulleys have preferably a V-shaped groove intowhich the V-shaped lugs c on the back of the belt fit so as to drive thebelt by the rotation of the pulley. These horizontally arranged pulleyse are located in front of the scene in connection with which the fenceis to be used, only that portion of the fence that lies at any timebetween these two horizontal pulleys being in an upright position. Atasuitable distance in rear of where these two pulleys are arranged in asuitable frame at each of the back corners of the quadrangle areplaced apair of grooved pulleys set at right angles with each other and arrangedto change the direction of the belt, that is, to give it a quarter turn.That portion of the belt to which the slats are secured passes along theback of the quadrangle in a position substantially at right angles tothe position of the belt on the opposite side of the rectangle, the beltand the slats between the corner pulleys e. and g varying from ahorizontal to a vertical position. In the motor frame h there issupported a main shaft 11 fast to which is a gear wheel 11, and ifrequired a balance wheel i to which a handle i is secured so that themain wheel may be driven by hand power if desired. The wheel a" has abevel gear that engages a bevel gear is secured to the upper end of thevertical shaft is to which is also secured a gear wheel 10 in mesh witha smaller gear 10 that is fast to the shaft of the pulley 6.

By means of the mechanism above described the endless belt may be causedto move at any desired rate of speed over the supporting pulleys. It isnot essential that these specific means of driving the belt should beemployed, as the shaft of one of the pulleys may be extended through thestage floor and connected to any desired source of power, or a motor ofany desired form. may be so connected to either of the pulleys thatsupport the belt as to drive the latter.

The main feature of my invention consists in such an arrangement ofpartsas will enable a movable fence to be employed on a flat surface,the palings being shown in an upright position only in that part of thelength of the fence where the efiect is desired. a

This invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a racescene in which usually horses or like animals supported on endless pathsor like structures compete.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a stage or like flatsurface aseries of pulleys arranged parallel to said surface, anotherseries of pulleys arranged to give a sidewise turn to an endless belt,an endless belt movable on said pulleys and supporting slats or palingsthat project from one end of the belt, and a frame bearing a system ofgearing for imparting movement to the pulleys bearing the belt, allsubstan tially as described.

2. In combination with a theatrical stage, a series of pulleys arrangedparallel to the surface thereof, another series of pulleys arranged togive a sidewise turn to an endless belt, an endless belt movable on saidpulleys 10 and supporting slats or palings that project from one edge ofthe belt, and the belt drivin g mechanism, all substantially asdescribed.

JEFFERSON PATTEN. Witnesses:

' A. B. JENKINS,

CHAS. L. BURDETT.

